BENG! De Bilt

What BENG! De Bilt does

BENG! De Bilt (legal name Energiecoöperatie BENG! De Bilt) is a member-owned, non-profit energy cooperative founded in 2015 and headquartered in De Bilt, Netherlands. The cooperative operates with approximately 5 paid staff supported by more than 50 active volunteers and serves over 500 members across all villages of the De Bilt municipality, with the stated mission of making the municipality energy-neutral. Its service portfolio spans free energy advisory (home energy scans, infrared photography, walk-in consultation hours), the Eerste Hulp Bij Energie program for renters facing energy poverty, DIY insulation workshops, and large-scale project development including collective rooftop solar, the 20-hectare Zonneweide Voordaan solar field, geothermal exploration drilling, district heating networks (notably Warmtenet Brandenburg-West for 1,100+ homes), and wind energy advocacy via the Utrechtse Windcoalitie.

Underlying technology is light-touch: BENG! integrates the third-party Hoomdossier online energy-scan platform and the SmartTwin Quickscan building assessment tool within its advisory workflow, coordinates collective solar ownership under the Dutch postcoderoosregeling (postal code rose) regulation, and maintains a wholly-owned spin-off cooperative Biltstroom for managing rooftop solar installations. The cooperative's competitive differentiation is not technological but community-based — door-to-door outreach, neighborhood trust, and volunteer-driven service delivery.

The business model combines three revenue streams: (1) recurring membership fees of €30/year (€15 with U-pas), (2) referral compensation from Energie van Ons (a national cooperative energy supplier co-owned by BENG! and ~13 other cooperatives, formed by the July 2026 merger of om | nieuwe energie and Energie VanOns), and (3) project-specific subsidies and grants from provincie Utrecht, gemeente De Bilt, and Rabobank Midden Nederland. Ancillary unit-priced services (energy scans €30-60, home visits €20-40) generate modest supplemental income, while a substantial share of services — including all energy advice for renters and most information events — is provided free of charge.

Name

BENG! De Bilt

Legal name

Energiecoöperatie BENG! De Bilt

Website

https://bengdebilt.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BENG! De Bilt is a non-profit member-owned energy cooperative serving 500+ residents of De Bilt, Netherlands with energy advisory, collective solar projects, geothermal exploration, heat networks, and energy-poverty support via ~50 volunteers and 5 paid staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Energy Cooperative Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community energy cooperative
• Residential energy advisory
• Collective solar projects
• Home energy audits
• Heat transition services

Headquarters

HQ city

De Bilt

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of €30 per year (€15 with U-pas discount) provide core funding. Members receive discounts on energy advice services and contribute to governance decisions.
2. Referral Revenue from Energy Supplier Partnership: BENG! receives compensation when members become customers of Energie van Ons (formerly om|nieuwe energie). This supports local project development and creates a sustainable funding loop.
3. Subsidies and Grants: Project funding from provincial government (provincie Utrecht), municipality (gemeente De Bilt), and Rabobank Midden Nederland supports specific initiatives like Biltse Zonnedaken and Zonneweide Voordaan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BENG! De Bilt is a local member-owned energy cooperative operating in the municipality of De Bilt, Netherlands. It provides free and subsidized energy advisory services (home energy scans, IR photos, walk-in consultations), coordinates collective solar and wind projects, runs the Eerste Hulp Bij Energie program assisting renters with energy poverty, and develops neighborhood heat-transition initiatives (district heating, geothermal exploration) to help make the municipality energy neutral.

Product overview

BENG! De Bilt is a local energy cooperative operating as a service organization rather than a software product. It offers a portfolio of advisory and implementation services focused on energy savings and local sustainable energy generation. The core offerings include: (1) Energy advisory services — free home visits, energy scans, and consultation hours using the Hoomdossier online platform; (2) Eerste Hulp Bij Energie — a free program helping renters in energy poverty with advice and free installation of materials; (3) Solar energy projects — collective purchasing programs (Maartendijkse Zonnepanelen Collectief, Westbroeks Energie Initiatief), Biltse Zonnedaken for large rooftops, and Zonneweide Voordaan large-scale solar field; (4) Wind energy advocacy and feasibility research; (5) Heat transition services — geothermal exploration and warmtenet heat networks for neighborhoods; (6) OM | nieuwe energie / Energie van Ons — green energy supplier partnership offering 100% Dutch renewable electricity with member discounts; and (7) Practical support including DIY workshops (kluslessen), shared electric cars (MobiGo), and home battery programs. The portfolio also includes the BENG! Jong youth advisory council. All services are provided free or at low cost to residents of municipality De Bilt, supported by approximately 50 active volunteers and over 500 members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BENG! Jong: Youth advisory council for members aged 18-35 who contribute ideas on sustainable energy projects, communication, and energy poverty solutions in De Bilt.
• Eerste Hulp Bij Energie (EHBE)
• Biltse Zonnedaken

Products and services

• Energieadvies (Energy Advice Service) Free and discounted energy advisory services for De Bilt residents, including on-site home energy scans, IR heat photography, Hoomdossier online home analysis, and energy Q&A via email, phone, or in-person consultation.
• Eerste Hulp Bij Energie (EHBE) Free program launched during the 2021-2022 energy crisis that helps renters facing energy poverty with behavioral advice, small interventions, and free installation of energy-saving materials such as draft strips, radiator foil, and pipe insulation.
• Energieklusser (Energy Handyman Service) Volunteer-driven service that installs free energy-saving materials such as draft strips, radiator foil, and pipe insulation in rental homes to reduce energy consumption.
• Collective Solar Energy Projects Collective solar energy advisory and purchasing programs including the Biltse Zonnedaken program for large rooftops and local cooperatives such as Maartendijkse Zonnepanelen Collectief and Westbroeks Energie Initiatief, enabling residents to invest in shared solar installations.
• Wind Energy Advocacy and Research Wind energy advocacy and feasibility research in De Bilt. BENG! is part of the Utrechtse Windcoalitie and investigates resident participation in potential wind turbine development near the A28, supporting a minimum 50% local community ownership model.
• Heat Transition Advisory Advisory and project development services to help buildings and neighborhoods transition away from natural gas, including geothermie research, district heating network (warmtenet) planning, and gas-free transition support for neighborhoods such as Brandenburg-West and De Leijen.
• Energiespreekuur (Energy Consultation Hours) Free walk-in and appointment-based consultation hours held twice monthly at De Clou in De Bilt (Wednesday evenings) and WVT in Bilthoven (Saturday mornings), where residents receive personalized advice on sustainability options and subsidy schemes.
• Kluslessen (DIY Energy Workshops) Series of practical workshops teaching residents to perform simple energy-saving tasks themselves, including ventilation maintenance, insulation installation, and draft proofing. Priced at €10 for three sessions and includes free materials.
• Home Battery Advisory and Collective Purchase Advisory service promoting home battery storage solutions through information evenings and collective purchase campaigns, helping members evaluate quotes and addressing self-consumption of solar energy ahead of the salderingsregeling phase-out in 2027.
• Electric Shared Cars (with MobiGo) Shared electric car initiative in collaboration with MobiGo Zeist, placing electric shared cars at charging stations on Leyenseweg and Lijsterlaan in Bilthoven so residents can drive electric on a pay-per-use basis including charging, insurance, and maintenance.
• Information Evenings Free volunteer-organized events held regularly for De Bilt residents, covering topics such as energy saving, solar panel viability, heat pump readiness, electric driving, home batteries, and ventilation.
• Cooperative Membership Annual membership at €30 (€15 with U-pas) that provides voting rights in cooperative governance, 50% discounts on energy scans and home visits, €10 annual credit for customers of Energie van Ons, and access to member events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average €350 annual savings for renters with low energy labels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• De Utrechtse WindcoalitiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2024BENG! signed cooperation agreement with 13 other member-cooperatives to form 'De Utrechtse Windcoalitie' to support each other in building cooperative wind farms. The coalition enables knowledge sharing, project leadership exchange, and joint fundraising for wind energy projects.
• Energie van Ons (formerly om | nieuwe energie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergie van Ons is a national cooperative energy supplier co-owned by BENG! and dozens of other local energy cooperatives. BENG! delivers locally generated solar energy to this supplier, and receives referral compensation when members become customers. This partnership enables cooperative-owned energy to reach customers nationwide while funding local projects.
• Energie van UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergie van Utrecht is the umbrella organization for energy cooperatives in Utrecht province. BENG! is affiliated with this organization which provides project bureau support, coordinates provincial initiatives, and facilitates cooperation between member cooperatives.
• BHM SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHM Solar is co-developer with BENG! of Zonneweide Voordaan, a 20-hectare solar field project along the A27 at Groenekan. The project aims for 50% resident co-ownership and awaits final approval.
• Gemeente De Bilt (Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBENG! works closely with municipality on subsidies, policy feedback, joint projects like Brandenburg-West district heating, and access to municipal resources. BENG! is independent but receives project funding.
• Woongroen (Housing Corporation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoongroen is housing corporation owning half of Brandenburg-West properties (flats). Partners with BENG! and municipality on district heating network for 1100+ homes, on condition costs for tenants do not increase.
• Provincie UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government provided support for Biltse Zonnedaken project and geothermie research. Also designates wind energy zones and sets policy requiring 50% local cooperative ownership for wind projects.
• MobiGo ZeistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to place electric shared cars at charging stations in De Bilt. BENG! collaborated with MobiGo to stimulate electric shared driving. Cars positioned at Leyenseweg and Lijsterlaan in Bilthoven.
• Poonawalla Science Park BVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner of Utrecht Science Park Bilthoven where BENG! initiated and guided installation of 3000 solar panels on 8 large buildings. Generated 870,000 kWh in peak year. BENG! conducted feasibility study and managed subsidy application.
• Biltse Zonnedaken ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram supported by province Utrecht, municipality De Bilt, and Rabobank to provide free advisory services for large roof solar projects. Facilitated dozens of conversations and guided multiple projects including VvE Poortgebouw II, Parkflat Houdringe.
• Energie SamencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting energy cooperatives with training, resources, and expertise. Helps BENG! volunteers develop skills through workshops and education programs.
• Natuur en Milieufederatie Utrecht (NMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial environmental federation supporting BENG! through training for energy ambassadors, coaches, and handypeople. Provides ongoing education and knowledge sharing resources.
• GreenspreadminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject bureau that collaborated with BENG! and Poonawalla Science Park BV on the 3000 solar panel installation at Utrecht Science Park Bilthoven.
• Bedrijventerrein aanpak BVminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultancy guiding the Vereniging Bedrijvenpark Larenstein in their research on grid congestion solutions. BENG! provides expertise on infrastructure, contracts, and strategy approaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bengdebilt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beng-de-bilt
• Instagraminstagram.com/bengdebilt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BENG! De Bilt